Tonight marks the half way  point in our celebration of Hanukkah.

On Hanukkah, it is customary to eat potato latkes and jelly doughnuts. These treats, which are fried in oil, remind us of the miracle of the jug of oil that burned for eight days.

Fourth Candle

Psalm 119:105 and Psalm 119:130 describe the light that comes from
God’s Word:

Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path. The
unfolding of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the
simple.

When we read God’s word, the Bible, God gives us His light. He allows us to see things that will encourage us, convict us, and motivate us to follow Him more closely. He allows us to see things that we should be doing and things that we should not. Wisdom and understanding are found in the pages of the Bible.

Have a great weekend and take some time in God’s word. It will brighten your day.

Happy Hanukkah.

Tom Stearns
WASI chaplain
907 715-4001

Tonight we celebrate the third night of Hanukkah.

One of the games played at Hanukkah is the Dreidle. It played a significant role during the persecution of the Jews.

“It is said that when King Antiochus would not let the Jews worship God, they prayed and studied secretly. Little wooden tops were kept on the tables with the Holy Books. When soldiers came into the houses to make sure the King’s orders were being followed, everyone pretended to be playing a game with spinning tops.

During the celebration of Hanukkah, children play with the four-sided top called a dreidle. There is a different Hebrew letter on each side. The letters stand for the words: “A great miracle happened there.” This refers to the victory of the Maccabees over the King’s army.” (Festival of Lights, The Story of Hanukkah)

Third Candle

King David reminds us that God Himself is the source of our own
individual light:

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is
the defense of my life; whom shall I dread (Psalm 27:1)? For You light my lamp; the Lord my God illumines my darkness (Psalm 18:28).

In life we may be told we can not witness, read our Bibles, or speak about what we believe. It is then, we must learn to be creative. The Jews used a top. What can you use? The Scripture for today goes right along with this. I should have no fear because God is my defense. He will give us light in the midst of darkness. He will also give us creative ideas to communicate Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world.

Interesting how a Jewish holiday, that a couple of days ago you knew nothing about, can be so helpful to our walk in Jesus Christ.

Happy Hanukkah.

Tom Stearns
WASI Chaplain
907 715-4001

The Menorah

Eight lights are lit in the Menorah, one for each night of Hanukkah. Most Menorahs burn candles, but some have wicks to burn oil, as did the Temple Menorah long ago.

A special candle, the shammas, is used to light the menorah candles. New candles are lit each night. A new shammas is lit each night, too. The shammas is lit first, and the Hanukkah candles are lit from it.

On the first night of Hanukkah, put the first candle at the right end of the Menorah, as you face it.  On the second night two candles, three on the third night, and so on. Always light the newest candle first, then light the others, from left to right. Place the lighted Menorah in a window, so all may see and share the celebration.

Messianic Hanukkah Candle Lighting

Each night we recite three blessings, acknowledging God’s Lordship, power in working miracles, and sustaining us another year.

Then we acknowledge the Scriptural significance of each candle lit.

Shammash (Servant) Candle

Messiah Yeshua stated in Mark 10:44-45:

Whoever wishes to be first among you shall be the servant of all. For
even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to
give His life a ransom for many.

First Candle

Genesis 1:3-4 describes the creation of the first light:

God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw that
the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness.

Second Candle

Exodus 13:21-22 reveals that God is the source of Israel’s light:

And the Lord was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to
lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them
light, that they might travel by day and by night. He did not take
away the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from
before the people.

What did we learn today?

First, God is Lord and in control of all things.

Second, we need to be servants, not demanding to be served. (Shammash candle)

Third, light was spoken into existence by God. Light is good. God separated the light from the darkness. (The first candle)

Fourth, God led the nation of Israel. He gave them literal light to lead them through the wilderness and spiritual light to lead them to Him. (The second candle)

Tomorrow, we will look at the Dreidle and the Third candle.

Happy Hanukkah.

Tom Stearns
WASI Chaplain
907 715-4001

Good morning,

Tonight, 6 December 2015, 25th of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar, is the first night of Hanukkah. John 10:22 states, “And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.” This “feast of the dedication” is a reference to dedication of the temple in 165 BCE.  To understand this verse we need a history lesson.

Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days and nights, starting on the 25th of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar (which is November-December on the Gregorian calendar). In Hebrew, the word “Hanukkah” means “dedication.”

The holiday commemorates the rededication of the holy Temple in Jerusalem after the Jews’ 165 B.C.E. victory over the Hellenist Syrians. Antiochus, the Greek King of Syria, outlawed Jewish rituals and ordered the Jews to worship Greek gods. In 168 B.C.E. the Jews’ holy Temple was seized and dedicated to the worship of Zeus. Some Jews were afraid of the Greek soldiers and obeyed them, but most were angry and decided to fight back.

The fighting began in Modiin, a village not far from Jerusalem. A Greek officer and soldiers assembled the villagers, asking them to bow to an idol and eat the flesh of a pig, activities forbidden to Jews. The officer asked Mattathias, a Jewish High Priest, to take part in the ceremony. He refused, and another villager stepped forward and offered to do it instead. Mattathias became outraged, took out his sword and killed the man, then killed the officer. His five sons and the other villagers then attacked and killed the soldiers. Mattathias’ family went into hiding in the nearby mountains, where many other Jews who wanted to fight the Greeks joined them. They attacked the Greek soldiers whenever possible.

About a year after the rebellion started, Mattathias died. Before his death, he put his brave son Judah Maccabee in charge of the growing army. After three years of fighting, the Jews defeated the Greek army, despite having fewer men and weapons.

Judah Maccabee and his soldiers went to the holy Temple, and were saddened that many things were missing or broken, including the golden menorah. They cleaned and repaired the Temple, and when they were finished, they decided to have a big dedication ceremony. For the celebration, the Maccabees wanted to light the menorah. They looked everywhere for oil, and found a small flask that contained only enough oil to light the menorah for one day. Miraculously, the oil lasted for eight days. This gave them enough time to obtain new oil to keep the menorah lit. Today Jews celebrate Hanukkah for eight days by lighting candles in a menorah every night, thus commemorating the eight-day miracle.

Why is this important to us? First Jesus and all the Apostles celebrated the “feast of the dedication.” Second, this points to Jesus as being the light of the world. (John 8:12)

Each night a candle is lit, prayers made, and Scripture shared as to why Jesus is the light.

Happy Hanukkah.

Tom Stearns
WASI Chaplain
907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

This week we will be walking through James 4.  We will look at the causes for strife in the Christian community, Biblical solutions, and why we need a humble dependence on God. Our key verse is James 4:7-8.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. (James 4:7-8)

A humble dependence on God

 1) Caution against an attitude of independence from God. v 13-16

“Go to now, ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.”

1. We will v 13
2. Ye know not v 14
3. Life is a vapor v 14
4. If the Lord will v 15

The question begs itself, “Who is in charge?” Do we make our decisions in life with or without the direction of God?

 2) A challenge to live according to what we know in the Lord. V 17

“Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”

When we know we have sinned, we must repent, ask God to forgive us, and move on. Unfortunately, Satan has won this battle with many believers. These believers feel like they have done something that cannot be forgiven. They repent but feel totally unqualified for further service. That is straight out of the pits of hell! God forgives and equips ALL who are willing to serve Him.  Please do not fall for Satan’s lie.

CONCLUSION

• Submit yourself unto God
• Resist the devil
• Draw nigh unto God

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

This week we will be walking through James 4.  We will look at the causes for strife in the Christian community, Biblical solutions, and why we need a humble dependence on God. Our key verse is James 4:7-8.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. (James 4:7-8)

The solution for strife: get right with other people. v 11-12

“Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?”

1. Do not speak evil of one another v 11
2. Who art thou that judgest another? v 12

As we study God’s word, we are told “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” (Matthew 7:1-2)

We are to restore repentant believers not condemn them. “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” (Galatians 6:1)

The believer in Christ should: “Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”  (Ephesians 4:32)

Let us reflect on how we are doing.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

 

Good morning,

This week we will be walking through James 4.  We will look at the causes for strife in the Christian community, Biblical solutions, and why we need a humble dependence on God. Our key verse is James 4:7-8.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. (James 4:7-8)

The solution for strife: in humility, get right with God. v 6-10

“But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”

1. But God gives more grace v 6
2. God resists the proud v 6
3. God gives grace to the humble v 6
4. Therefore submit unto God v 7
5. Resist the devil and he will flee from you v 7
6. Draw near to God v 8
7. Cleanse your hands v 8
8. Purify your hearts v 8
9. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord v10

The same Holy Spirit convicting us of our compromise will also grant us the grace to serve God as we should. But this grace only comes to the humble. In the light of the grace offered to the humble, there is only one thing to do: submit to God. This means to order yourself under God, to surrender to Him as a conquering King, and start receiving the benefits of His reign.

To solve the problems of carnality and the strife it causes, we must also resist the devil. This means to stand against the devil’s deceptions and his efforts to intimidate. As we resist the devil, we are promised that he will flee from you.

The call to draw near to God is both an invitation and a promise. It is no good to submit to God’s authority and to resist the devil’s attack and then fail to draw near to God. We have it as a promise: God will draw near to us as we draw near to Him.

As we draw near to God, we will be convicted of our sin. We are compelled to find cleansing at the cross.

As we come as sinners before God, we appropriately humble ourselves before God, then He will lift us up. Because God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble, and grace-the unmerited favor of God-always lifts us up.

Here James gives us practical things we can do deal the problem of strife. Apply these Biblical principles to grow in your relationship with God.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

This week we will be walking through James 4.  We will look at the causes for strife in the Christian community, Biblical solutions, and why we need a humble dependence on God. Our key verse is James 4:7-8.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. (James 4:7-8)

A rebuke of compromise and covetousness among Christians. V 4-5

“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?”

1. Friendship with the world is enmity with God v 4
2. Friend of the world is the enemy of God v 4

This is a rebuke in the Old Testament vocabulary. God spoke this way in the Old Testament when his people were attracted to some form of idolatry (Jeremiah 3:8-9, Ezekiel 6:9, Ezekiel 16:32, Ezekiel 23:37, and Hosea 3:1).

So the question for each one of us is who are we befriending? The world, the flesh, and the devil, or the God of creation, salvation, and sanctification. The answer to that question will help us determine our spiritual condition.

What is your answer?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

This week we will be walking through James 4.  We will look at the causes for strife in the Christian community, Biblical solutions, and why we need a humble dependence on God. Our key verse is James 4:7-8.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. (James 4:7-8)

Reasons for strife in the Christian community. v 1-3

“From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? ² Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.³ Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.”

1. Wars and fightings v 1
2. Lusts v 1
3. Desire to have v 2
4. Ye ask not v 2
5. Ask amiss v 3

James accurately describes strife among Christians with the terms wars and fightings. Often, the battles that happen among Christians are bitter and severe. The source of wars and fightings among Christians is always the same. There is some root of carnality, an internal war within the believer regarding the lust of the flesh.

The types of desires that lead to conflict are described. Covetousness leads to conflict (you lust and do not have). Anger and animosity lead to conflict (murder).

The reason these destructive desires exist among Christians is because they are not seeking God for their needs (you do not ask). Or, when they do ask, they ask God with purely selfish motivation (ye ask amiss).

This is not how God wants us to live our lives. We will find God’s answers as we continue our study of James 4.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

 

Good morning,

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. I would encourage each of you to set a portion of the day aside to remember all the things God has done for you this year. Then spend time thanking Him. Please meditate on this devotional. God is in control, takes our sin, gives us His grace, and supplies all our needs. We should be a very thankful people.

Thanksgiving is never out of season!

(James Smith)

“In everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus!” 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Everything we enjoy should be viewed as coming from the gracious and liberal hand of our sovereign God.

All was forfeited by our sin.

All that we receive is by His grace.

The providence that supplies us–is the wisdom, benevolence, and power of God in operation for us–as expressive of His infinite love and unmerited grace!

Our talents to provide supplies,
our opportunities to obtain them,
and our abilities to enjoy them,
–are alike from the Lord.

Every mercy increases our obligation–and deepens our debt to free grace!

Thanksgiving is never out of season, for we have always much to be grateful for.

We must view all things as . . .
arranged by His wisdom,
dependent on His will,
sanctified by His blessing,
according with His promises,
and flowing from His love!

“In everything give thanks!” 1 Thessalonians 5:18

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001